Qatar's World Cup 2022 - $200bn spend on new infrastructure FIFA requests a minimum of eight stadia for hosting the World Cup.

at
9:30 PM

Qatar's World Cup 2022 organising committee has stressed that no final decision has yet been made regarding the number of stadia it will build for the football tournament.

In response to news reports this week which claimed that Qatar has reduced the number of venues because of cost concerns and delays, the 2022 Local Organising Committee said consultations were still on-going with FIFA.

It added in a statement that the committee will submit its final proposal for stadia by December with a decision by the FIFA Executive by March 2015.

"The process of selecting the final proposed line-up of host venues is on-going in consultation with FIFA," it said.

It admitted tha FIFA and the Local Organising Committee decided to look into reducing the originally proposed 12 venues to fit the country's specifications "while ensuring best playing conditions for all 64 matches", adding that FIFA requests a minimum of eight stadia for hosting the World Cup.

The statement added: "The 2022 Local Organising Committee will submit by December 2014 a proposal for an appropriate number of host venues, whilst ensuring a suitable legacy for the country and the national league after the tournament. The approval of the final number of stadiums is envisaged by the FIFA Executive Committee by March 2015."

Earlier this week, it was reported that Qatar had slashed the number of stadiums it will build for the World Cup by a third amid rising costs and delays.

Qatar has flagged a more than $200bn spend on new infrastructure ahead of the World Cup, including $34bn on a rail and metro system, $7bn on a port and $17bn on an airport. The stadiums will cost $4bn, according to the ministry of business and trade.

Qatar, which has faced delays with the start of work on the metro system and opening of the new airport, recorded a 1.4 percent decrease in its 2014-15 budget surplus compared to the previous year as spending on key projects increased by 17 percent, Qatar News Agency said last month.

Construction has started on the Wakra stadium, while work on the Al Rayan stadium is set to start later this year.